Plenty of food to go around

Friday

Nov 26, 2010 at 3:15 AM

By VICTORIA GUAY

Those in the Laconia and Meredith areas who needed or wanted a place to go and share a good meal on Thanksgiving were welcomed at two long-standing community dinners, the annual Hazel Duke Dinner at the Congregational Church in Laconia and the Mae Hart Dinner at the Meredith Community Center.

Before the annual Hazel Duke Dinner was served, Dave Decker, chair of the event, reminded those gathered of the origins of Thanksgiving.

He said it has been 389 years since the first Thanksgiving, which was a communal dinner and celebration between the surviving pilgrims of the Plimouth Plantation and the Native Americans who offered assistance to the newcomers in growing crops and surviving the harsh winter.

"Again, we celebrate that great tradition of Thanksgiving," Decker said.

Reverend Warren Bouton, pastor of the church, led the group in prayer, closing with, "We ask that you bless our fellowship this day."

Forsberg said he and others began preparing the feast last week.

To feed approximately 150 people, the number of people expected to attend, Forsberg said they prepared 16 large turkeys, 40 pounds of squash, 60 pounds of potatoes, 15 pounds of string beans and four gallons of homemade gravy.

In addition, dozens of packages of crackers and slices of cheese are served as appetizers and dozens of fresh-baked pies were donated for dessert.

Forsberg said that, in all, some 30 to 40 volunteers helped to prepare, serve and clean up.

"We have a lot of good volunteers and a lot of great folks who donate money, food and their time," Forsberg said.

Forsberg said he has been helping to prepare the annual dinner for approximately 10 years and has headed the kitchen crew for the last six or seven years.

"I just enjoy the giving, especially at this time of the year," Forsberg said. "It's one of my favorite holidays and it's important to me to help people who don't have any place to go or any family in the area."

He added that the volunteers and the people who come every year have formed kind of extended family, and new members are always welcome.

Among the new volunteers this year were Elizabeth Christensen and her son, Luke, 12, both of Meredith.

Christensen said they had at first asked the Salvation Army if they needed any help serving their Thanksgiving meal, but the organization said they had enough people. So they asked at the Congregational Church and were given the job of serving at one of the tables.

"We've been really fortunate so we want to help people who need a place go and to make them feel warm and welcome," Christensen said. "We have all day, so why not give a couple hours of our time?"

Tara Shore of Laconia said she and her family began volunteering at the Hazel Duke Dinner four years ago.

"My boys were old enough to volunteer and I wanted them to put in some community service time, to learn how to give back to the community," Shore said, adding that her husband, Michael, also enjoys helping out.

"It's become a family affair for us," Shore said.

She said her sons — Garrett, 12, and Tanner, 9 — are the most excited about the annual event and usually ask their mother when she is going to sign them up to volunteer each fall.

Their specific task is helping out with the dishes, Shore said.

"The boys love it," she added.

Wilma Davis of Laconia, a member of the Congregational Church, said this was her first time coming to the dinner.

"I didn't want to eat alone," Davis said simply. "When you live alone, you miss having people around you."

Davis was sitting near Lenny Mains of Belmont who has been to the Hazel Duke dinner for the past three years.

"I like meeting new people and seeing old friends," Mains said of why he attends. "Besides, the food is great."

In Meredith, an annual Thanksgiving feast served in honor of Mae Hart has been a tradition since the late 1970s.

"It warms my heart," said Russ Hart, a co-owner of the family-run Hart's restaurant that has become a Lakes Region institution, upon seeing all the people gathered together.

"It's nice to give back to the community has given so much to my family," he added.

Hart said his brother, the late Glenn Hart, started the event in honor of their grandmother, Mae Hart.

"My grandmother was always concerned at Thanksgiving that people alone or in need should have a place to go and a nice meal," Hart said.

Rick Desharnais, a volunteer from Hart's Turkey Farm Restaurant, said he likes helping out at the annual event.

Though he was dressed in chef's uniform, complete with a puffy white hat, Desharnais said he did not cook the meal, which was provided by the restaurant, though he did do the carving and set up the food table.

The turnout was slightly down from last year, going from approximately 100 to 80 people.

"We're not certain why, but certainly everyone here is going to have a full stomach and they will go home with leftovers for a midnight snack," Desharnais said.

Tom Murphy said this was his second year volunteering at the dinner.

"The Hart family is just so generous and it's just a great way to kick off the holiday," Murphy said about why he began volunteering at the event.

"Even in these times, people have a lot to be thankful for," Murphy added.

Those who attended the dinner had nothing but praise for those helping to organize it each year.

"We don't have any family around here, so this very enjoyable to us," said Elaine Randall of Tilton who came with her husband, Ken.

Albert Funai of Moultonborough said he and his wife, Margaret, came to the dinner last year and enjoyed it so much they came again this year.

Funai added that this year was more meaningful, as his wife, who suffered a stroke nearly a year ago and as been staying Golden View nursing home, had not been on any outings since moving into the home 10 months ago.

The Funais' son, Rick Funai of Sandown, also came to the event, to be with his parents.

"This is very nice," Rick Funai said of the dinner. "Everyone did a really nice job, the food was good and the presentation was great. I'm very appreciative.

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